# How do you reply when someone says "Happy Birthday" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 30, 2017, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197 "2017-06-30T15:29:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/21 "2017-06-30T21:50:53Z")
I say “thankee sai” and punch myself in the throat. But only if the person wishing me well is female. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/22 "2017-06-30T22:47:41Z")
“Saying it don’t mean shit. Where’s my present, dammit?” ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/23 "2017-06-30T22:57:42Z")
I just thank people on the rare cases it comes up. Thanking them for the reminder would work too but might confuse most people. 😛 It just isn’t a day that has worked for normal celebrations for most of my adult life so I don’t pay huge amounts of attention to it myself. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/24 "2017-06-30T23:20:26Z")
I say “Thank you.” It’s also what I say to gentiles who wish me “Happy Hanukkah,” or “Happy [insert Jewish holiday/festival].” ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/25 "2017-07-01T00:33:08Z")
It ain’t gonna be happy until you buy me a drink. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/26 "2017-07-01T00:56:46Z")
‘Thank you’ is right because ‘Happy Birthday’ is essentially a contraction of ‘I hope you have a happy birthday’. It’s an explicit wish for you to be happy today (expressed in a slightly formulaic way). So you should feel no more oddness in saying thanks than you would if they’d said ‘I hope you get to enjoy yourself today’ or ‘I hope your SO is taking you somewhere nice for dinner.’ ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/27 "2017-07-01T05:46:42Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I say “thankee sai” and punch myself in the throat. But only if the person wishing me well is female. Do ya. But yeah, my response is generally something like “Thanks! I’m doing X for my birthday; looking forward to it.” Or something else that lubes conversation in the spirit intended. Long days and pleasant nights. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/28 "2017-07-01T06:53:22Z")
In Japanese one congratulates you on your birthday. Why? Maybe because you didn’t die? The proper adult response is to say “Oh no” or “Oh no, but thanks.” > [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > I do feel somewhat similar to OP when someone compliments how pretty my dog, or, _l’havdil_,\* my wife is. “Thank you” always seems like it shouldn’t be said by me. That’s expressly forbidden in Japanese culture, as would agreeing with them. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/29 "2017-07-01T07:23:34Z")
> [@Civil\_Guy](#): > > You’re thanking them (in not so many words) for their consideration in remembering an anniversary that’s pretty important to you. > > Works for me. > [@Ornery\_Bob](#): > > “Thank you” is always the correct response when someone wishes you well in any form. > > My significant other has trouble accepting these sorts of good wishes from others and feels like she needs to return the favor in some way. It’s not necessary. It’s a small pleasantry. Accept it nicely with a “Thank you” and move on. Yes, ‘thank you’ works for me. Plus I smile at the well-wisher. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/30 "2017-07-01T07:54:03Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > In Japanese one congratulates you on your birthday. Why? Maybe because you didn’t die? The proper adult response is to say “Oh no” or “Oh no, but thanks.” > > That’s expressly forbidden in Japanese culture, as would agreeing with them. If you would kindly explain, which aspect is “expressly” forbidden in Japanese? I’m not quite understanding. Are you saying that it is more polite to disagree with the well-wishing than to simply acknowledge it, or…? I apologize for my ignorance here. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/31 "2017-07-01T12:12:48Z")
“Actually, birthday celebration is against my religion.” “Oh, sorry. So . . . You’re a Mormon, then?” “No, an old atheist.” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/32 "2017-07-01T13:55:41Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > ‘Thank you’ is right because ‘Happy Birthday’ is essentially a contraction of ‘I hope you have a happy birthday’. It’s an explicit wish for you to be happy today (expressed in a slightly formulaic way). So you should feel no more oddness in saying thanks than you would if they’d said ‘I hope you get to enjoy yourself today’ or ‘I hope your SO is taking you somewhere nice for dinner.’ This is why “you too” is NOT an inappropriate response. I want others to enjoy themselves on my birthday. What, I should want them to be miserable on my birthday? That’s a recipe for getting them to dread and even resent my birthday coming around. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/33 "2017-07-01T15:24:00Z")
If it is in fact my birthday, “thank you” If it’s not, it’s “You watched Frosty The Snowman again, didn’t you?” ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/34 "2017-07-01T17:38:06Z")
“I was hoping nobody’d notice.” ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/35 "2017-07-01T19:40:01Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > I do feel somewhat similar to OP when someone compliments how pretty my dog, or, _l’havdil_,\* my wife is. “Thank you” always seems like it shouldn’t be said by me. > > \*"_L’havdil_ is a Hebrew word meaning “to separate”: it’s very useful stylistically at points in some sentences like this, and would be a nicety to have in English: when a distasteful term in itself or by comparison by literal juxtaposition is linked with another and you want to be sure that in this case of making some other point _only_, you can throw that in, without having to recast the sentence. … soooo… you’re using _l’havdil_ to separate dog and wife? To clarify that you do not consider them equivalent? (Trying to make sure I understood correctly) > [@Elemenopy](#): > > If you would kindly explain, which aspect is “expressly” forbidden in Japanese? I’m not quite understanding. Are you saying that it is more polite to disagree with the well-wishing than to simply acknowledge it, or…? > > I apologize for my ignorance here. Your quote was missing the relevant bit. Disagreeing that your wife is pretty could send you to sleep with the dog. Agreeing may seem like you’re congratulating yourself on something which is actually no merit of yours. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/36 "2017-07-01T20:25:54Z")
> [@Elemenopy](#): > > Do ya. You say true and I say thank ya ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2017, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/37 "2017-07-02T05:48:38Z")
**How do you reply when someone says "Happy Birthday"** _Thanks for reminding me I’m another year closer to death, ass-hat!_ ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2017, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/38 "2017-07-02T05:51:36Z")
**How do you reply when someone says "Happy Birthday"** I was trying to forget. Now I’ll be over here in my corner crying. Thanks, asshole! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2017, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/39 "2017-07-02T05:55:10Z")
**How do you reply when someone says "Happy Birthday"** Grab crotch and say, “I _loved_ your mom’s birthday present”. ETA: “hey, stop crying, Sis, I was kidding”. ---
**Author:** ![Jesta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Jesta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jesta)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2017, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-reply-when-someone-says-happy-birthday/790197/40 "2017-07-02T10:07:01Z")
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